Plot to make Britain second-class EU state

BRITAIN could become a “second-class” EU country under a radical plan being drawn up by top Eurocrats, it emerged yesterday.

The move to make the UK an “associate member” of the EU is the brainchild of pro-integration MEPs

The move to make the UK an “associate member” of the EU is the brainchild of a group of pro-integration MEPs.

Eurosceptics cautiously welcomed the move as evidence Britain could forge a new relationship with Brussels and as a sign that pro-Europe hardliners have finally given up trying to draw us into ever closer integration.

But there were fears it could mean the worst of both worlds – with Britain still bound by EU rules but having far less influence.

The Daily Express is crusading for Britain to leave the EU, which we joined 40 years ago today.

Prime Minister David Cameron is expected this month to set out his vision for our relationship with Europe and to announce a referendum to give voters their say in 2015. He believes Britain should stay in the EU.

“Associate membership” status would see the UK stay in the single market – guaranteeing free movement of goods, money and workers around Europe.

But we would no longer have a Commissioner in Brussels, MEPs or a right to veto other governments’ decisions.

This would leave Britain in the same position as potential future EU member Turkey.

British Lib Dem MEP Andrew Duff, president of the Union of European Federalists, an umbrella group of pro-integration campaigners, said there had been “intense discussion” privately of the options for Britain. Other EU countries see Britain as “a continual impediment” to greater unity, he said.

The UK needed “a parking place” to prevent it either leaving or blocking the closer integration sought by some of its neighbours.

Mr Duff envisages that Britain could still have a judge in the European Court of Justice, which rules in trade disputes, but it is not clear if Britain would stay locked into social and employment laws.

He said it would be a “disaster” for Britain to completely leave the EU.

Eurosceptic Tory MP Douglas Carswell said: “This idea of associate membership could be fantastic if it means that we are no longer tied to EU law and no longer have to pay for fat cat EU salaries and we are free to trade with the rest of the world and only have to comply with single market rules when we are exporting to Europe.

“If, on the other hand, we remain subject to the jurisdiction of the European courts and we still have to comply with single market rules even when a business has no intention of exporting to Europe then it’s a pig in a poke, we are being sold a pup.”

Fellow Tory Eurosceptic John Redwood said: “The report that federalists in the EU are thinking of a new associate status for the UK as a privileged trading partner outside the emerging political union is great news.

“It shows the UK can negotiate a new relationship with them. It shows that many on the Continent now recognise that the UK needs a looser relationship with them, based on trade.”

Nigel Farage, leader of anti-Brussels party Ukip, rejected Mr Duff’s idea. He said: “I want Britain to trade with Europe, be friendly with Europe, but not to be constrained by European law.”

Last week former European Commission president Jacques Delors suggested Britain could leave the EU but remain a “partner”.